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Sennheiser HD 800 S — Open-back
Sennheiser

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Open-back

95
/ 100
From $1,699
VS
Sennheiser HD 800 S wins by 2
Bose QuietComfort Ultra — CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Adaptive
Bose

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Adaptive

93
/ 100
From $429
Specdex verdict

Sennheiser HD 800 S takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 800 S lands at 95 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra at 93. That puts Sennheiser HD 800 S ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sennheiser HD 800 S if…

  • ✓Reference-level detail
  • ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • ✓Long-term ownership appeal

Pick Bose QuietComfort Ultra if…

  • ✓Best comfort in class
  • ✓Excellent ANC
  • ✓Immersive Audio spatial feature
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound quality

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sennheiser HD 800 S leads on sound (95 vs 92).

Noise cancelling

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

ANC strength for commute and travel

Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on anc (96 vs 0).

Comfort

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Long-session wearability

Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on comfort (98 vs 88).

Value for money

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Bose QuietComfort Ultra more score per dollar ($429 vs $1,699).

Sennheiser HD 800 S 95
vs
93 Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Score breakdown

Sennheiser HD 800 S
95
anc 0
sound 95
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
93
anc 96
sound 92
comfort 98
battery 86
features 90

Specs side-by-side

Sennheiser HD 800 S versus Bose QuietComfort Ultra — full spec comparison
Spec Sennheiser HD 800 S Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Type
Open-back
—
Driver
—
35 mm dynamic
Battery
—
24 h (Immersive Audio off) / 18 h (on)
Weight
—
253 g
Codecs
—
SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Pros
  • +Reference-level detail
  • +Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • +Long-term ownership appeal
Cons
  • −Requires amplifier (most)
  • −No active noise cancellation
  • −Impractical for commuting

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Pros
  • +Best comfort in class
  • +Excellent ANC
  • +Immersive Audio spatial feature
Cons
  • −Bose app fiddly
  • −No USB-C audio (3.5 mm + Bluetooth only)
  • −No LDAC support

FAQ: Sennheiser HD 800 S vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Which is better, Sennheiser HD 800 S or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +

Sennheiser HD 800 S scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Sennheiser HD 800 S worth the price? +

At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800 S delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in battery.

Is Bose QuietComfort Ultra worth the price? +

At $429, Bose QuietComfort Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in comfort.

Does Sennheiser HD 800 S or Bose QuietComfort Ultra last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for sound quality, Sennheiser HD 800 S or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +

Sennheiser HD 800 S — leads on sound (95 vs 92). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Sennheiser HD 800 S or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +

Bose QuietComfort Ultra — leads on anc (96 vs 0). ANC strength for commute and travel.